Wisconsin Center for the Neuroscience and Psychophysiology of Meditation

描述(由申请者提供)：本项目将研究两种不同形式的冥想训练对情绪调节方面的影响。有一种冥想是专门为提升慈悲和慈爱的品质而设计的。另一种冥想形式--正念冥想--据说会改变一个人与他/她的情感的关系，使他/她不那么认同他们，他们也不太可能坚持下去。这个项目的一个主要目标是调查这些形式的心理训练对情绪反应和调节的影响。这一目标将通过对两个主要样本的调查来实现：1.接受为期8周的基于正念的压力减轻(MBSR)的标准化计划的个人，其中包括仁爱和慈悲的训练；2.每天至少冥想30分钟的专家冥想者，持续10年，包括慈爱/慈悲和正念冥想。在后一组参与者中，我们将在三种情况下进行评估：没有在冥想之前进行初始测试；在密集练习10小时的慈悲/慈爱冥想之后；以及在密集的练习10小时的正念冥想之后。对MBSR小组的评估将是纵向的，因为我们可以在提出培训之前和之后获得评估。MBSR小组还将包括四个月的随访期。我们还将对MBSR组使用一个高度结构化、非常匹配的对照组，我们将其称为健康促进计划(HEP)，在接触时间、日常练习、班级结构等方面进行匹配，但这不包括正念或爱/同情的成分。来自这些样本的参与者将在为期两天的实验室会议中接受测试，以评估仁爱/同情冥想和正念冥想对描述人类痛苦的情感图片的反应和恢复的影响。外周生理反应和恢复将通过惊吓和面部肌电图进行测量，与反应和恢复相关的神经回路将通过功能磁共振成像(FMRI)进行评估。我们还将调查这些不同形式的冥想对Trier社会应激任务(TSST)皮质醇反应的影响，并检查冥想练习产生的大脑变化与TSST反应变化之间的关系。最后，还将评估本项目与项目2和项目3中所采取的措施之间的关系。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project will examine the impact of two different forms of meditation training on aspects of emotion regulation. One form of meditation is specifically designed to prime and enhance qualities of compassion and loving kindness. Another form of meditation-mindfulness meditation-is said to alter an individual's relationship with his/her emotions so that the individual is less identified with them and they are less likely to perseverate. A major goal of this project is to investigate the impact of these forms of mental training on emotional reactivity and regulation. This goal will be realized by the investigation of two primary samples: 1. Individuals undergoing a standardized program of 8 weeks of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) that includes training in loving-kindness and compassion; and 2. individuals who are expert meditators with daily meditation practices of at least 30 minutes/day for 10 years that include both lovingkindness/ compassion and mindfulness meditation. Among this latter group of participants, we will conduct assessments on three occasions: an initial testing session without preceding meditation; after an intensive day of 10 hours of practice of compassion/loving-kindness meditation; and after an intensive day of 10 hours of practice of mindfulness meditation. Assessment of the MBSR group will be longitudinal since we can obtain assessments before and after the training is presented. A four-month follow-up period will also be included for the MBSR group. We will also use a highly structured, very well-matched comparison group for the MBSR group, one that we have termed the Health Enhancement Program (HEP) that is matched on hours of contact, daily practice, class structure etc., but that does not include a mindfulness or lovingkindness/compassion component. Participants from each of these samples will be tested in laboratorysessions conducted over the course of two days to assess the impact of loving-kindness/compassion meditation and mindfulness meditation on reactivity to and recovery from emotional pictures that depict human suffering. Peripheral physiological reactivity and recovery will be measured with startle and facial electromyography and the neural circuitry associated with reactivity and recovery will be assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We will also investigate the impact of these different forms of meditation on cortisol reactivity to the Trier Social Stress Task (TSST) and examine relations between changes in the brain produced by the meditation practices and changes in response to the TSST. Finally, relations between measures obtained in this project and in Projects 2 and 3 will also be assessed.